Environment minister to meet residents
lawyer
By Tanya Collier
The environment minister will meet with Frederick
Street residents' legal counsel in Halifax today.
Although details of the pending discussion were not
released to the Cape Breton Post, the dialogue is
expected to include health concerns commonly
verbalized by the Sydney residents. Laura Lee
Langley, director of communications at the
department, said the session was requested by the
group's Halifax lawyer, Rocky Jones.
Environment Minister Michel Samson visited
Frederick Street residents Jan. 15 and also took a
tour of the coke ovens site and Sydney tar ponds.
Juanita McKenzie, spokesperson for the group,
said the minister's stopover was unsuspected.
"I wasn't too happy."
Although McKenzie said Samson needs a clearer
understanding of the area and residents' concerns,
he should have informed the homeowners about his
intentions.
"If he was coming, he should have made it known."
Langley said the minister was "welcomed" into
Frederick Street residents' homes when he visited
the Sydney location. The occupants talked about
their health concerns and the depreciated value of
their property.
"There was a real mixture of comments," added
Langley.
Report suggests buffer zone between cleanup, residential areas
